Moved upstairs: Independent panel to assess Drysdale development

THE CITY of Greater Geelong council wants to see an independent panel established to consider a proposal to facilitate residential development in Drysdale.

At their meeting on Tuesday last week, the council resolved to request the Planning Minister appoint an independent panel to consider Amendment C363.

The proposed amendment rezones 28 Rural Living zoned properties on either side of Central Road in Drysdale to support about 550 residential dwellings.

The amendment received 71 public submissions after public exhibition during September and October last year; of those, 21 were objections from residents of Marsh Court, who were against the proposed Marsh Court road connection to the proposed residential estate.

After reviewing the submissions, the city recommends removing the proposed road connection to Marsh Court and replacing it with a linear reserve for pedestrian, bicycle and stormwater drainage use.

The City of Greater Geelong council also supported removing the application of GST costings from the draft Central Road Drysdale Development Contributions Plan (DCP); the DCP identified $10 million in new infrastructure was required as part of the proposed development.

Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said the council supported the continuation of the consultation process.

“We are very aware of the community views and this process gives more opportunity for people to submit their views to the panel before it comes back to council for decision.”

Identified infrastructure includes the upgrade of Jetty Road and new local parks, open space trails and drainage basins.

Among the proposed projects is a public link between McLeods Waterholes and Griggs Creek, which would be revegetated with local plant species.

A development contribution will also be directed to the new Drysdale Regional Community and Learning Hub, which will replace the existing library and senior citizens centre.

All submissions – and the city’s response to the submissions – would be referred to the panel, which is scheduled to begin hearing in April.

Chair of the city’s planning portfolio Cr Trent Sullivan said in order to consider all the public feedback, the amendment needed to be reviewed by an independent panel.

“All community members who provided feedback are encouraged to contribute to the process, so the panel can best understand the issues and concerns.”